Chapter 18: Beneath The Training Grounds
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They didn't speak as they crossed the forest.
The sounds of the attack grew fainter behind them, but Lyra couldn't forget the screams.
She kept looking back.
Kael noticed.
“Stop.”
She looked at him.
“What?”
“If you keep looking back, you're going to trip.”
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
Lyra frowned.
“You're annoying.”
“I've been told.”
For a moment, the tension eased.
Then another distant howl broke through the trees.
Lyra's smile disappeared.
“Do you think they're safe?”
Kael knew who she meant.
“I don't know.”
She looked at him.
“At least you're honest.”
“I won't lie to you.”
They reached the northern ridge.
The High Seer stopped beside a large stone covered in moss.
“This is it.”
Kael looked around.
“There isn't anything here.”
“There is.”
She placed her hand against the stone.
Nothing happened.
Her expression tightened.
Then she looked at Lyra.
“Touch it.”
Lyra hesitated.
“Why me?”
“Because it won't open for anyone else.”
Kael stepped closer.
“I'm coming with you.”
The High Seer shook her head.
“The door chooses blood.”
Lyra slowly placed her palm against the stone.
The mark on her wrist glowed.
A low rumble came from beneath their feet.
The stone moved.
A narrow entrance appeared.
Maya stared.
“How long has this been here?”
“Longer than the pack.”
The High Seer stepped inside.
Lyra followed.
Kael came immediately behind her.
Maya brought up the rear.
The entrance closed behind them.
Darkness swallowed the group.
Kael reached for Lyra's hand.
She held on.
“Still afraid?” he whispered.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
She looked at him.
“Good?”
“It means you're paying attention.”
Despite everything, she smiled.
They continued deeper into the passage.
The walls were covered with carvings.
Lyra slowed.
“These look familiar.”
Kael glanced at them.
“From the underground chamber?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
She touched one of the carvings.
A woman stood beneath a crescent moon.
Beside her was a crowned man.
And between them was a child.
Lyra.
Her fingers trembled.
“That's me.”
The High Seer looked back.
“Yes.”
“You knew?”
“I knew the moment I saw your mark.”
Lyra turned toward her.
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I wasn't sure you were ready.”
“I've spent my whole life being told I'm not ready.”
Her voice rose.
“I think I've had enough.”
The High Seer stopped.
For a moment, she simply looked at Lyra.
“You're right.”
Lyra blinked.
“I am?”
“You deserve the truth.”
The woman took a slow breath.
“Your father wasn't simply a king.”
Lyra's chest tightened.
“What was he?”
“The first Moon King.”
Kael frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“The Moon King ruled over both wolves and humans before the packs separated.”
Lyra stared at the carvings.
“So my father ruled all of them?”
“Once.”
“What happened?”
“He was betrayed.”
Lyra's fingers curled.
“By whom?”
The High Seer looked away.
“Someone he trusted.”
Kael's expression hardened.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You expect us to believe that?”
“I saw the aftermath. I didn't see the betrayal.”
Lyra looked between them.
“Then how did my father die?”
The High Seer hesitated.
“He didn't.”
Silence.
Lyra stared at her.
“What?”
“He disappeared.”
“But Elara said they killed him.”
“She believed they did.”
Lyra's heart began pounding.
“You're saying my father might still be alive?”
“I don't know.”
Kael stepped closer.
“Then why tell her this?”
“Because if the guardian has awakened, there's a possibility the king's bloodline is responding to something.”
Lyra shook her head.
“That doesn't make sense.”
“It doesn't have to.”
The High Seer continued walking.
“There are things your father left behind that only you can access.”
They reached the end of the passage.
A massive stone door stood before them.
There was no handle.
Only a symbol carved into the center.
The same symbol as Lyra's mark.
The High Seer stepped aside.
“This is where I stop.”
Kael looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because the door won't let me through.”
Lyra stared at it.
“What is inside?”
The High Seer looked at her.
“Something your father left for you.”
Lyra slowly approached the door.
Kael moved beside her.
“You don't have to do this.”
She looked at him.
“Yes, I do.”
She placed her hand against the symbol.
The door trembled.
A voice came from the other side.
Soft.
Familiar.
Lyra's eyes widened.
“Lyra.”
She froze.
She knew that voice.
Her mother's.
“Mum?”
Kael grabbed her hand.
“Wait.”
But Lyra couldn't move.
The voice came again.
“Don't trust the High Seer.”
Lyra slowly turned toward the woman.
The High Seer had gone completely still.
Her face had lost all color.
Lyra stared at her.
“What did she mean?”
The High Seer didn't answer.
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then the stone door began to open.
The High Seer took a step back.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
“She found us.”
Lyra's heart pounded.
“Who?”
The High Seer looked at the opening door.
“I don't know.”
And for the first time, Lyra saw something she had never seen in the woman's eyes before.
Fear.
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